Car-brake



(No Model.)

L. K. JEWET'T.

- OAR BRAKE.

No. 309,548. Patented Dec. 23, 1884.

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CAR -BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,5 l8, datedDeee1nber'23, 188%.

Application filed March 24, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it 11m cozwern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER K. JEWETT,

of Fitchburg, county of \Vorcester, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented an improve ment in (larlh'akes, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like letters 011 the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to that class of brake mechanism wherein thebrake-shoes are ap plied to independent brake-wheels attached to theaxles between the car-wheels.

The nature of my invention is fully set forth in the followingdescription, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a plan-view of a car-truck, showing my invention appliedthereto; Fig. 2, a vertical section of a part of the car-truck in theline a m,- Fig. 3, an end View thereof, partially in section; and Figs.4: and 5, details to be referred to.

In the annexed drawings, A represents a metallic truck-frame with itsbolster A, substantially-of the construction described in a formerpatent granted to me, No. 279,951, and

B the axles, having the attached. trackwheels (I C, the said parts, withthe side pieces, forming, the truck of a car, as indicated in thedrawings. The axles l3 B are provided, just inside of the wheels 0 (3,with smaller brake-wheels D, preferably two on each axle, which areforced onto the axles by hydraulic pressure in the same manner as thewheels 0 G are usually forced thereon, said brake-wheels I) having, inthe present instanceN-shaped peripheral grooves 11, to receive thecurved \l-shaped brake-shoes E, detachably connected with the shoestrapsF by means of the lugs z and pins 5. The lower ends of the shoe-strapsare attached to strong bars 0, rigidly fastened to the bolster A", theupper ends of each pair of brake-shoes which engage the brake-wheels I)on each of the aXlesB Bbeing respectively secured to brake bars 0 6running parallel with the axles B B. Rods f 7 connect the brake-bars c eto two levers, g, pivoted to the frame A, the inner ends of said levers9 being in turn connected by rods 9 with other levers, g, the arms ofwhich are of spring-steel, and are extended through the loops 20,attached to the truck frame A, (see Fig. 1,) the said loops serving asstops for the said arms in their outward movement, as when applying thebrake-shoes, i so that the brakeman cannot force the brakeshoes soclosely against the brake-wheels as to entirely check the rotation ofthe axles and enable the track-wheels to slide on the track. The leversare pivoted on the curve-plates attached to the frame A, and their innerends, brought together at the middle of the truck, are joined to one endof the brake'rods h by a turnbuckle, or right-and-leit-threaded nut orsleeve 71, the other end of the brake rod being carried toward the endof the car and suitably attached by a brake-chain (not shown) to theusual wheel or drum on the usual brakeusual manner, so that the brakemechanism may be put in motion to apply the brakeshoes to thebrake-wheels.

as to yield when the power exerted on them is in excess of that which itis desired to throw upon the brake-wheels.

The turn-buckle h or its equivalent is a mattor of very greatconvenience, as by its use the wear between the brake-shoes andbrakewheels, or between usual brakeshoes and the car-wheels, may becompensated for by shorteni n g the rod. This wear is very considerablein practice, and it is not unfrequent that the brake-rod or itsconneeted'chain has to be cut off or shortened to keep the brake-shoeproperly up to its work.

\Vith the turn-buckle the adjustment of a worn brake apparatus may bequickly made, and I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myinvention to putting the turn-buckle or nut into the brake mechanism inthe brake rod, for the same advantages might be gained by using twoturn-bucklesone on each of the rods 9 or in the rods f f.

It will be noticed upon inspection of Fig. 1 that upon drawing thebrake-rod it forward operated that the brake-shoes E will be ap plied tothe brake-wheels D on both axles B B to bring the truck to a stop. TheV-shaped surfaces of the brake wheel and shoe, each shaft; or the rod ifmay be operated in any 9 the levers and their connecting-rods will be soThe spring-levers may be of such stiffness of wrought bands or a lowgrade of steel.

In my improved brake apparatus the brakeshoe embraces fully one-half ofthe brakewheel, so that great power may be exerted quickly.

As before stated, with the usual brake-shoes the rims of the car-wheelsare much worn, and

so also are the flanges of the wheels, thus weakening them and renderingthe flanges liable to break on curved track.

Brake-shoes such as ordinarily used are connected with brake-beamssuspended from the car body or truck by chains or links. These bars arelong enough to cross both rails and hold the brake-shoes in line withthe carwheels, and consequently with the track, and it frequentlyhappens that by accident one or both ends of the brake-beam drop, inwhich case the shoe or part of the beam usually falls 011 the track,throwing off the track thewheel first to meet it.

By employing independent brake-wheels,as herein shown, between the usualcar-wheels, I am enabled to dispense with the usual swinging brake-beam,and should a brake-shoe break it cannot fall on the track, but will beheld at the central part of the track by the wrought metal bars 6. Theshoe-straps F F will have transverse depressions, as shown at 20, Fig.5, to receive the bolts 2, and, viewing Fig. 4:, the face of the hub ofthe brake-wheel will have a diametrical depression or groove, 22, toreceive a corresponding projection at the inner end of the hub of thewheel next to it.

The brake-wheels D are each constructed with a hub, a grooved rim orperiphery, and independent wrought-iron hollowor tubular spokes, asclearly shown in the drawings, more especially in Fig. 3, so as toprovide an open-work brake-wheel to prevent the heat generated by theapplication of the brakeshoes thereto from being conducted to the axles.

I find it essential to success to provide open brake-wheels, for wheresolid wheels are used an excess of heat is conducted to the axle, whichsoon injuriously affects the axle-journals.

I do not claim as a part of my invention solid brake-wheels applied to acar axle having the usual track-wheels.

I claim 1. The car-axle having track-wheels, and the independentbrake-wheels secured on the said axle, the said brake -wheels consistingeach of a hub, hollow or tubular spokes, and a grooved felly or rim,combined with brakeshoes adapted to be applied to the brakewheels,substantially as described.

2. A truck-frame, a car-axle having trackwheels, and bars 0, rigidlysecured to the said truck, combined with independent groovedbrake-wheels secured on the axles near each end and just within thetrack-wheels, shoestraps pivoted at their lower ends to the bars a,andat their upper ends to a brake-bar and provided with segmentalbrake-shoes detachably connected with the shoe-straps, and wedge shapein cross-section to fit the groove in the brake-wheels, and mechanismfor operating the said brake-shoes, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

3. A car-axle having track-wl1eels,and'provided with two independentbrake-wheels applied thereto between the track-wheels and contiguousthereto, each of said brake-wheels consisting of a hub, spokes, andperiphery or felly, combined with a truck frame, bars a, securedthereto, shoe-straps pivoted to the bars and provided with brake-shoes,the latter being adapted to be applied to the brakewheels, and withmechanism for operating the brake-shoes, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

4. The car-axle having track-wheels, grooved brake-wheels secured on theaxles between the track-wheels and contiguous thereto, as specified,combined with curved wrought metal shoe-straps having transverse groovesor recesses in their outer surfaces, and brake-shoes wedge shape incross-section, provided with lugs and adapted to be detachably connectedwith the shoe-straps, and bolts to secure the straps and shoes together,said bolts occupying the recesses in said straps, substantially asdescribed.

5. A car-axle having track-wheels and provided with independentbrake-wheels secured thereon, bars 0, brake-shoes to embrace thebrake-wheels, the levers g, and rods to connect them with thebrake-shoes, and spring-armed levers g", to move the levers 9, combinedwith stops for the levers g to operate, substantially as described.

6. A truck-frame having bars 0 rigidly secured thereto and provided witha pair of caraxles having track wheels, combined with brake-wheelssecured on the car-axles, shoestraps having brake-shoes and pivoted atone end to the bars 0, levers g, pivoted to the truck-frame,connecting-rods f f, and mech anism for operating the levers g to applythe brakes, substantially as described.

7. A truck-frame having bars a rigidly secured thereto,and provided witha pair of caraxles having track wheels combined with brake-wheelssecured on the car-axles, shoestraps having brake-shoes and pivoted atone end to the bars 6, brake-bars 0 0 secured to the remaining or upperends of the shoe-straps, levers g, fulcrumed between their ends to thetruck-frame, rods f f, to connect the brakebars 0 c with the levers 9,one on either side of their fulcra, and means for operating the levers gto apply the brakes, substantially as described.

S. In a car-brake apparatus, an axle, an in- IlO dependent brake wheel,a brake-shoe and mechanism to operate the said brake-shoe, the saidmechanism containing spring-armed levers 9 substantially as described,and stops for the same, whereby the maximum friction or pressure of thebrake-shoe against the brake- Wheels is limited, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a car-brake mechanism, levers g,l1aving spring-arms,brake-shoes,and intermediate links and levers to operate the brake-shoes, and stopsto regulate the movement of the said levers combined with a rod providedwith lVitnesses:

G. NV, GREGORY, B. J. NoYns.

